ERIC Number: EJ1235423
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1306-3030
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Sources and Possible Causes of Errors and Misconceptions in Operations of Integers
Khalid, Madihah; Embong, Zulmaryan
International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, v15 n2 Article em0568 2020
This research investigated students' sources and causes of errors and misconception in solving routine problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of integers. This qualitative study involved observation of eight Year 7 classes and interviews with the respective classroom teachers. Sixteen Year 7 students who exhibit errors when solving the problems given in the Error Identification Integer Test (EIIT) were also interviewed to probe their thinking. The different types of errors were categorized according to how they were construed. The sources of errors were found to stem from carelessness, poor basic knowledge such as the inability to multiply and divide even the whole numbers, inability to assimilate concepts of integers since they are used to the schema of whole numbers, and rule mix-up which is also the result of surface understanding. Teachers were questioned about common errors and possible reasons for these errors made by their students. The main cause of errors and misconceptions is superficial understanding, which was most probably due to teachers rushing to complete the extensive syllabus, and consequently, students resorted to memorizing rules because of surface understanding. Teaching episodes were found to lack multiple-representation, creativity, as well as cooperative learning and active learning.
Descriptors: Error Patterns, Misconceptions, Problem Solving, Addition, Subtraction, Teacher Attitudes, Mathematics Tests, Division, Numbers, Mathematical Concepts, Teaching Methods, Creativity, Cooperative Learning, Active Learning, Foreign Countries, Mathematics Instruction, Secondary School Students
International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education. Suite 124, Challenge House 616 Mitcham Road, CR0 3AA, Croydon, London, UK. Tel: +44-208-936-7681; e-mail: iejme@iejme.com; Web site: https://www.iejme.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Malaysia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A